Virtual Public Statement Hearing Set Regarding New York Transco’s Proposed Transmission Project

ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold a virtual public statement hearing on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, to receive public comments concerning a petition filed by New York Transco LLC (Transco), seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Commission, to: (1) construct and operate the Rock Tavern to Sugarloaf project (RTS Project); and (2) exercise certain rights and privileges granted under four Municipal Road Use Agreements.

On September 9, 2021, the Commission granted Transco a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to construct its RTS Project to be located the Towns of Blooming Grove, Chester, Hamptonburgh, and New Windsor in Orange County. Among other things, the RTS Project will replace approximately 12-miles of overhead 115 kilovolt electric transmission line and associated towers located on existing overhead electric transmission corridor and/or on adjacent land already owned or controlled by certain investor-owned utilities. In order to construct the RTS Project, Transco has secured municipal consents (Road Use Agreements) from each of the towns it will traverse. Pursuant to PSL §68 and previous Commission orders, Transco is required to obtain a CPCN to exercise municipal consents and to construct or operate any additional electric plant. Transco requests that the Commission issue (1) a CPCN pursuant to PSL §68; and (2) confirm that the lightened regulatory regime the Commission previously granted to Transco as a wholesale electric market participant extends to the RTS Project.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that comments are sought on the petition filed by Transco, on November 9, 2021, in this proceeding. As this is not an opportunity for parties to relitigate issues already decided by the Commission in Case 20-T-0549, comments should pertain to Transco’s ability and readiness to commence construction of the Project as contemplated by PSL §68.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a virtual public statement hearing will be held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Ashley Moreno on:

DATE: Tuesday, December 21, 2021

TIME: 4:00 P.M.

Electronic Access: www.webex.com

Event Number: 2344 589 1459

Password: Dec21-4pm

Phone-Only Access: (518) 549-0500

Access Code: 2344 589 1459

Any person wishing to provide a public statement on the record at the hearing must pre-register to do so by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 20, 2021.

To register electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to the hearing electronically may register to do so by visiting www.webex.com, where they should click “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the event number listed above, and provide all requested information.

When logging in to the hearing on the appropriate date and time, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require that participants enter their phone numbers.

To register by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to the hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to provide a statement must register to do so in advance by calling 1-800-342-3330 by the date and time noted above, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first and last name, address, and phone number.

On the date and time of the hearing, all call-in users should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the access code listed above.

The public statement hearing will be held open until everyone who has registered to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Time limits may be set for each speaker, as necessary. It is also recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of the public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to Case “21-E-0557.” All comments are requested by December 23, 2021.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search” and enter “21-E-0557” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top right of the page; or send comments by email to the Secretary to the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching, using the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

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